Private Practice

Judges may get pay raise Annapolis By LAURA ERNDE laurae@herald-mail.com Circuit and District Court judges across Maryland, including those in Washington County, would get a 7 percent raise next year under a proposal before the Maryland General Assembly. Judges statewide would get a 2 percent cost-of-living raise next year under Gov. Parris Glendening's proposed budget. On top of that, the Judicial Compensation Commission is recommending that judges get 5 percent raises.

General surgeon opens Eastern Panhandle office MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Dr. Robert E. Cicchino Jr., board certified general surgeon, recently joined University Surgical Associates in Martinsburg and the medical staff at the City Hospital campus of West Virginia University Hospitals-East. Cicchino received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, W.Va., and completed his residency in general surgery at Community General Osteopathic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pa. For the past 10 years, Cicchino has been in private practice in Waynesboro, Pa. In his new Eastern Panhandle practice, he will be a member of the active medical staff at City Hospital and serve on the faculty of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Eastern Division.

On the day Tom DiGirolamo was admitted to the Maryland bar 17 years ago, he was told to remember four things - treat everyone well, be honest, help people and better yourself every day. When he was sworn in Friday as the new U.S. District Court magistrate judge in Western Maryland, DiGirolamo said he will continue to live by those rules. "This is an incredibly humbling experience," DiGirolamo said to a packed Washington County courtroom, filled with fellow attorneys, state and federal judges, family and friends.

The Interfaith Coalition of Washington County presents a retreat Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Shepherd's Spring Retreat facility in Sharpsburg. The retreat runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is about "The Poetic Imagination of Rumi and the Return to Original Unity" facilitated by the Rev. Glenn Mitchell. The retreat will explore how the ancient poetry of Rumi can speak to all traditions, and lead followers into a perspective of peace and a feeling of connection that transcends religious barriers.

HAGERSTOWN erinc@herald-mail.com Eleven Washington County residents have applied for a judgeship opening in Washington County District Court. The list of possible judges was released Thursday. The applicants are Mark K. Boyer, Regina Mary Cirincion, Steven Clarke Kessell, Dana Lynne Moylan, Michael E. Nehring, Scott L. Schubel, Mark Duvall Thomas, Robert C. Veil Jr., Margaret L. Williams, Gregory C. Bannon and Daniel P. Dwyer. The position was made available in December, when former District Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. was named to a Washington County Circuit judgeship.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg attorney on Tuesday announced his candidacy for a judgeship in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia's trial court system. Harry Patton Waddell, a 57-year-old Republican, said in a press release that he intends to file for the circuit's Division 5 judgeship. "Given the exponential growth occurring in our region, and the corresponding increase in social challenges such as crime, my extensive law experience makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a circuit court judge in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties," Waddell said in the release.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg attorney on Tuesday announced his candidacy for a judgeship in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia's trial court system. Harry Patton Waddell, a 57-year-old Republican, said in a press release that he intends to file for the circuit's Division 5 judgeship. "Given the exponential growth occurring in our region, and the corresponding increase in social challenges such as crime, my extensive law experience makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a circuit court judge in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties," Waddell said in the release.

A physician in Washington County for 35 years and counting, Dr. Robert Brull is hoping to stay around long enough to practice in the new Washington County Hospital when it is built in the near future. Brull recently was named 2008 Physician of the Year by the Washington County Health System. No stranger to awards, Brull has a framed clipping in his outer office about being the Washington County Hospital Emergency Room Physician of the Year in 1985. Brull, 67, said it was a surprise and a shock when he won the overall award this year.

The first woman to be elected judge in Franklin County helped Letterkenny Army Depot observe Women's History Month on Wednesday. Since 2000, Carol L. Van Horn has served on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas for the 39th Judicial District comprised of Franklin and Fulton counties. In her keynote speech, Van Horn spoke about the journey of women in the legal profession beginning with Myra Bradwell, who paved the way in 1872. Bradwell asked the Illinois legislature for a license to practice law and was denied.

William Richard McCune, M.D., passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 at his home. Dr. McCune was born Jan. 15, 1922, in Gassaway, W.Va., the son of the late Carl and Eunice McCune. He grew up in Gassaway with his future wife, Mary Lou Groves. They were both active in 4-H throughout their childhoods. As a Gassaway High School student, he played trumpet in both the high school and state 4-H bands. He was a solo trumpeter in the West Virginia All State Band. He attended West Virginia Boys State in 1939.

The Interfaith Coalition of Washington County presents a retreat Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Shepherd's Spring Retreat facility in Sharpsburg. The retreat runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is about "The Poetic Imagination of Rumi and the Return to Original Unity" facilitated by the Rev. Glenn Mitchell. The retreat will explore how the ancient poetry of Rumi can speak to all traditions, and lead followers into a perspective of peace and a feeling of connection that transcends religious barriers.

-APRIL 25, 2009 John Harold Housman, 81, died April 25, 2009, at Landis Homes, after a 14-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Born in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of the late Ricardo L. and Anna Mae Stehman Housman. He was the husband of Miriam Miller Housman. They were married for 56 years. He was a graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School, Va., and received degrees from Eastern Mennonite College and Lebanon Valley College. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his internship at Lancaster General Hospital.

HAGERSTOWN -- A man who pleaded guilty to first-degree felony murder in the August 1997 shooting death of a Waynesboro, Pa., man was back in court Tuesday claiming he did not understand the nature of the charge to which he entered a plea and asking for a new trial. Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley said he would make a decision in about 60 days. Two attorneys who represented David Paul Paschall, 34, in the 1990s testified Tuesday that they had several lengthy discussions with their former client about the meaning of first-degree felony murder.

A physician in Washington County for 35 years and counting, Dr. Robert Brull is hoping to stay around long enough to practice in the new Washington County Hospital when it is built in the near future. Brull recently was named 2008 Physician of the Year by the Washington County Health System. No stranger to awards, Brull has a framed clipping in his outer office about being the Washington County Hospital Emergency Room Physician of the Year in 1985. Brull, 67, said it was a surprise and a shock when he won the overall award this year.

The Washington County Republican Central Committee said Monday it has received 19 letters of interest from people who are seeking the appointment to the Subdistrict 2A seat in the Maryland House of Delegates vacated by Robert McKee. The Committee is in the process of reviewing each applicant's information, according to an e-mail from the committee. The committee released only the names of the candidates. Penny Pittman, central committee chairwoman, on Monday declined to release a list of where the candidates are employed.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg attorney on Tuesday announced his candidacy for a judgeship in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia's trial court system. Harry Patton Waddell, a 57-year-old Republican, said in a press release that he intends to file for the circuit's Division 5 judgeship. "Given the exponential growth occurring in our region, and the corresponding increase in social challenges such as crime, my extensive law experience makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a circuit court judge in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties," Waddell said in the release.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Martinsburg attorney on Tuesday announced his candidacy for a judgeship in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia's trial court system. Harry Patton Waddell, a 57-year-old Republican, said in a press release that he intends to file for the circuit's Division 5 judgeship. "Given the exponential growth occurring in our region, and the corresponding increase in social challenges such as crime, my extensive law experience makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a circuit court judge in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties," Waddell said in the release.